6 great non-traditional places to spend Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving travel is one of the busiest times of the year. There are so many different and exciting destinations to celebrate Thanksgiving. With extra time off from work, you may feel the urge to travel somewhere new or exotic. Whether you’re interested in visiting an island in the Carribean or Montage Deer Valley in Park City, Utah, finding the time to experience new adventures is always fun.
Top 6 Places to Visit This Thanksgiving
For those who want to skip Black Friday and travel somewhere unique for the holidays, this list provides a variety of new places to visit.
Photo by Héctor J. Rivas
Porto, Portugal
For an exotic travel experience, Porto for Thanksgiving is relatively inexpensive and easy to fly to. In the United States, there is a direct route from New York to Porto. Although it is not as warm as it is in the Carribean islands, temperatures in Porto, Portugal hover around the high sixties for a mild November vacation. There are plenty of scenic vineyards to visit, such as Niepoort or Sogevinus. There is plenty to do in Portugal at night considering the nightlife scene is alive and well. Although the temperatures usually stay around the high sixties during the day, layering for the night is a wise idea.
Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands
November can be a chilly time for many parts of the world. Virgin Gorda is a warm, tourist-friendly, Carribean destination for those who prefer a moderate temperature. While it may be cold in Canada or the United States, it’s comfortable swimming weather in Virgin Gorda. Virgin Gorda offers a small list of airlines as well as ferries.
Photo by Olivia Hutcherson
Deer Valley Resort
Deer Valley Resort is located in Park City, Utah. This award-winning resort dining offers a special holiday feast for those who want to relax. If you’d rather eat dinner privately, this is also available with their takeaway option. Turkey breast roulade, roasted butternut squash, whipped Yukon Gold potatoes and arugula salad are just some of the offerings they include. If you’re interested in a large meal with the opportunity to sleep through Black Friday, Deer Valley resort offers lodging and ski lessons for a unique November adventure.
Chicago, Illinois
Although Chicago is known for its freezing temperatures during the winter, its Thanksgiving Day parade is famous. This fall, enjoy the enormous balloons and holiday festivity starting at 8 a.m. on Thanksgiving. Celebrities, musicians, and horses are all part of the parade. State Street in Downtown Chicago is busy throughout the day with cuisine and marching bands to keep adults and children entertained. The forecast can get quite cold in the fall, so it’s best to bundle up or check the weather for varying temperatures throughout the day.
Riviera Nayarit, Mexico
For a quiet holiday this fall, smaller towns like San Pancho or San Blas are filled with quaint restaurants and semi-private beaches. Certain restaurants do serve the traditional holiday turkey dinner for those who crave a touch of home. River Cafe offers a four-course holiday dinner with butternut squash soup, traditional turkey and/or lamb and apple strudel. Nayarit is almost 200 miles and is just ten minutes north of Puerto Vallarta International Airport. Most people visit Riviera Nayarit, Mexico because of the sub-humid climate and warm temperature.
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Chiang Mai is located in the northern mountainous region of Thailand. It is the second-largest city and one of the best places to visit in November. The two annual festivals of light are held right around the holidays and involve candle-filled baskets that float down the river. Another festival has participants release lanterns into the night sky. For a truly beautiful autumn adventure, the Festivals of the Light is worth traveling the distance.
Celebrating holidays in a different place can create an exciting new tradition for anyone. Whether you’re fleeing from the cold or headed toward the ski slopes, making new memories will last a lifetime.
To find the cheapest fares to these destinations, you'll have to do your homework. Airline websites rarely offer full vacation packages. Travel sites like Expedia or Hotwire let you bundle flights and hotels to save money. Google Flights and Hipmunk both let you track airfares. Airlines sometimes give frequent flyers early Black Friday or Cyber Monday deals. This work on the front end of the trip will allow you to relax and fully enjoy Thanksgiving in a fun place!
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